“WWF called for a veto of this bill
and we are disappointed that it passed. However, there is a silver lining here
— the administration has appointed high level representatives to pursue a
global solution for aviation and climate. The White House now must endorse a
global, market-based measure to rein in carbon pollution from aviation. If they
do, we are optimistic that the U.S. can work with ICAO to develop a package of
policies that will reduce our share of global emissions,” said Keya Chatterjee,
Director of International Climate Policy at WWF.

“The signing of the Thune bill is
largely symbolic,” said Sarah Saylor, Senior Legislative Representative for
Earthjustice. “Implementing it would be a mess that could lead to a taxpayer
bailout for the airlines or a potential trade war. We are pleased to see the
Obama administration turning our collective attention to the international
arena where real progress can be made,” she added.

“Unlike the bill that passed here in
the U.S., Europe’s stop-the-clock on its law aims to ‘create a positive
atmosphere’ for the international talks,” said Annie Petsonk, international
counsel at Environmental Defense Fund. “Now the spotlight is on ICAO, and
on whether the U.S. will step forward with the real leadership needed to
drive agreement on an ICAO program to cut aviation’s carbon pollution,” she
added.

“We echo the Obama administration in
calling for an international solution, as that is the best way to address the
growing problem of carbon pollution from international aviation,” said Jake
Schmidt, International Climate Policy Director at the Natural Resources Defense
Council. “We are glad that the Administration is signaling its willingness to
roll up its sleeves to get that done.”

The groups reiterated that now is
the perfect time to make a global deal happen, and they underscored their
readiness to work with all stakeholders to get the job done.

Background:

Aviation is a significant source of
global warming pollution and is one of the fastest-growing sources of
greenhouse gas emissions if left uncontrolled. If it were ranked as a
country, the aviation sector would be the world’s 7th largest source
of this pollution, which is rising 3 to 4 percent per year.

Europe’s Aviation Directive, which
includes aviation within Europe’s economy-wide Emissions Trading System (EU
ETS) from January 2012, is a pioneering law that holds airlines accountable for
emissions associated with commercial flights that land at or take off from EU
airports. The program is projected to reduce carbon pollution equivalent
to that produced by 30 million cars by 2020.

On November 9, the 36-nation Council
of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) decided to form a
high-level advisory group to provide guidance on crafting an international
program to reduce emissions from aviation, with the aim to adopt an agreement
at their next triennial Assembly in September-October 2013. In response, the
European Union announced it would stop the clock for one year on the
implementation of its law capping the carbon emissions of international
flights landing and taking off from European airports.

The preceding developments render
irrelevant S. 1956, U.S. legislation signed today authorizing the U.S.
Secretary of Transportation to prohibit U.S. airlines from taking part in the
European emissions program. If the Secretary of Transportation were to
implement the prohibition outlined in the bill, it would require unlawful
behavior on the part of U.S. airlines and would risk igniting a trade war with
the European Union. However, the bill also puts the U.S. government on record
supporting efforts to secure an international approach to reduce aviation’s
global warming pollution.

###

Contact:

Chris Conner, WWF, (202) 492-2001

Sarah Saylor, Earthjustice (202)
667-4500

Annie Petsonk, EDF, (202) 365-3237

Jake Schmidt, NRDC (202) 425-1515

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